Bolster supporting spring group and stabilizing means



Dec. 8, 1953 K. M. HAMILTON BOLSTER SUPPORTING SPRING GROUP AND STABILIZING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 17, 1950 F's- 3 i v J/arZ/KHamiZtofL,

INVENTOR.

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Dec. 8. 1953 K. M. HAMILTON BOLSTER SUPPORTING SPRING GROUP AND STABILIZING MEANS Z5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 1'7, 1950 I INYENTOR. flarZ flZHamz Ito/v, M4Ct Dec. 8, 1953 K. M. HAMILTON 2,661,944

BOLSTER SUPPORTING SPRING GROUP AND STABILIZING MEANS Filed April 17, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet s IN V EN TOR.

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Patented Dec. 8, 1953 ()FFICE B OLSTER SUPPORTING SPRING GROUP AND STABILIZING MEANS Karl M. Hamilton, Chicago, 111'.

Application April 17, 1950, Serial No. 156,468

19 Claims.

My invention relates to a spring group with as-. sociated stabilizing means for supporting the bol-. stars of railroad freight car trucks and consists, generally speaking, of specially formed top .and

able action of the friction producing elements or shoes of the unit. g V

The invention relates to the provision of a special design of top plate so as to provide a centrally positioned open space between the spring supported extensions having downwardly and inwardly extending side walls. that are joined at their bottom portions by a bracket or cup-like shelf that is arranged for the seating of a constant friction producing spring and having this bracket arranged with an opening in the floor portion that permits the passage of another friction spring'that produces variable shoe pressure. An object of my invention exists in the housing of the stabilizing means in this aforementioned centrally positioned open space, above and at the sides of the spring supporting bracket; these'stabilizingmeans have no bearing contact with the topv plate except thatnobtainedby the constant friction spring wedge contact.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means of obtaining constant, variable, or constant-variable stabilization employing the same parts for all three types of applications with the exception of the requiredpapacity friction spring or springs.

, The invention provides a constant type of stabilization obtainable by an application of a cone.

stant friction producing spring, seated on the bracket that is an integral part of the top plate with the top portion of this spring contacting the wedge-member top floor; the structure also permits a variable type of stabilization to be obtained by application of a variable friction spring seated on afloor portion of the bottom plate; this spring projecting upwardly through the opening'in the floor portion of the spring supporting bracket and into contact with the top floor'of the wedge member. I

The structure is such that a combined type of stabilization, constant-variable may be provided, by application of both a constant and'a variable 2 I friction spring, with the constant springseated on the top plate bracket and the variable spring on a floor portion of the bottom plate, thevariable spring projecting upwardly; both of the springs exerting upward pressure on the wedge member, the constant spring producing constant shoe pressure over the load springs entire range and the variable spring increasing shoe pressure as lading'is added to a car. i

A further object of my invention is the construction of a bottom plate arranged to operate with the described top plate and havingat each and of an intermediately positioned pocket, ar-

ranged to receive the shoe and bottom plate connecting means, the pocket end walls to have suitable bottom openings to permit positioning over projecting portions of the frame assembly, said opening also permitting manipulation from 'the exterior, of the connecting means while in a compressed positionythe bottom plate having a variable spring seating floor portion and vertically upstanding pocket end walls for the application of suitable shoe wear plates.

And another object of my invention is the extension of the shoe tops so as to overlap or project into recesses of the top plate; these extensions provide added frictional surfaces to the shoe tops which with certain of the aforemenel tioned types of stabilization applications is the only contacting and holding means between the shoes and the top plate when the unit is assembled and compressed intoside frame applying drawings wherein:

v Figure l is a top plan view of one half of my improved unit with the load springs and-stabilize ing elements partly in dotted and full lines and a partial top plan view of the bottom plate of the unit with the superposed load springs and stabilizing elements omitted.

Figure 2 is a partial end elevation of the unit and. a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 as viewed by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a partial side elevation and partial sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1 as indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1 and illustrating the top side projections of the stabilizer shoes and recessed portions of the top plate to receive the projections.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the off-set line 5-5 of Figure 2, showing a portion of the top plate, a portion of a friction or stabilizing shoe and a portion of the bottom plate or member, with the tie means between the shoe and the bottom plate shown in elevation.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the top plate of the unit.

Figure 7 is a partial side elevation and sectiony al view taken on the line 'i'i of Figure 6'.

Figure 8 is an end elevation and partial sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

My invention as exemplified in the drawings contemplates a particular design of top plate shown at 5, Figures 1 and 6, and is provided with spaced extensions us for seating on the bolster load springs, diagrammatically shown at IS in Figure 3.

The top plate [5, intermediate the extensions I5a, is open and provided with downwardly and inwardly extending inner walls, as at ll, to provide a housing or compartment for the stabilizing means. The housing portion has no top and end walls and is connected by a bracket portion I8 to the main .top plate and also sustains a cuplike spring containing portion it (see Figures 2 and '7) provided in its bottom with a central opening 19* for passage of the coil spring 20} while the bottom of the cup about the opening constitutes a ledge 19* for supporting coil spring 21. These downwardly and inwardly extending inner walls ll, are reduced in their over all width at or near their bottom portion to provide clearance for this portion of the top plate that operates between thevertical walls of the bottom plate as shown in Figures 3 and 7.

Loosely mounted centrally in the compartment of the top plate is a hollow wedge member 22 which receives the upper ends of the coil springs 20 and/or 2! which bear against the top 23 of the wedge 22 (see Figure 2). The opposite sides or ends of the wedge. member 22 slope downward- 1y outward toward opposite sides of the unit and into contact with the inner sloping ends of the friction shoes 24, matching the sloping sides of the wedge member 22 and arranged at opposite sides thereof.

The opposite or outer ends 24 of the shoes 24 are plane, friction providing surfaces and the shoe tops are plane surfaces frictionally con-' tacting the bolster bottom floor or any bearing plate placed on the bottom of the bolster; these shoe tops may be provided with projections 25 extending over or into recesses 25 of the top plate l5. These extensions provide additional shoe top bearing area and on some stabilizer applications, it is the means of retaining the top plate and associated parts in an assembled or applying condition. The shoes may also have openings in the bottom floor 22 and front and back walls 24 for the application of holding means, later described; the general construction and operation of the stabilizing mechanism is substantially similar to that of my pending applications, Serial Numbers 569,861 and 679,327; application, Serial 4 Number 569,861 having matured into Patent Number 2,583,144.

The top plate I5, at opposite sides of the stabilizing means holding portion may be provided with recesses at 25 (see Figure 1) to receive the extensions or ears 26 on the sides of the friction shoes 24.

The unit also involves a bottom plate 21 which, similar to the top plate at its four corners, is formed to provide seats for bolster carrying load springs diagrammatically illustrated at l5. The bottom plate 2'! is provided with upstanding side walls 28, 28, at opposite sides, whose inner faces at opposite sides of the unit, coincident with the outer ends 24 of the shoes 24, are provided with wear resisting or wear plates 29, 29, see Figure 2.

The side walls 30, 38 at right angles to the wear plate carrying portions 23 slope downwardly and inwardly toward the transverse median line terminating in a horizontal plane slightly above the plane of the bottom of the spring containing portion I9 of the top plate l5; While the upstanding side wall portions 23, 28 and the wear plates 29, 29 terminate a predetermined distance below the top of the top plate l5 (see Figure 2) and thus permit the maximum downward movement of the truck bolster.

The bottom plate 27, centrally and beneath the spring containing cup portion IQ, of the top plate i5, is provided with a floor portion 3| for receiving the lower end of the variable friction spring 25.

The bottom plate 27, at opposite sides beneath the friction shoes 24, is provided with means for securing the shoes to the bottom plate for assem'- bly purposes, and as an exemplification, is shown provided with upstanding spaced brackets 33 with pin receiving holes 32 to receive the lower ends of links 34 and their holding pins 35 which extend through links 34 whose upper ends are secured by pins 36; the links pass through openings 24 in the bottom of the friction shoes 24.

The bottom plate 2'! at opposite sides and at the bottom of the side walls 28, 28 may have a portion of these Walls cut away or openings as at 31, so as to permit manipulation from the exterior of the assembly of the connecting or tie means when this unit is assembled and compressed or disassembled.

The ties 34, 34, joining the shoes 24, 24 and the bottom plate 21, constitute means whereby the wedge, friction and load springs and the top plate are held in place and together when in a compressed and applying position.

To assemble the device, the load springs are placed on the bottom plate and on the tops of these are placed the top plate; friction spring or springs are placed on their respective seats and on the tops of the spring or springs is placed the wedge member. Friction shoes are placed in their proper place having the links and pins applied. Pressure of some means is applied to the projecting topsof the shoes and these members and the springs are compressed to the required height and, while in this position, the tie means are manipulated to secure the shoes and bottom plate together as a unit for shipment.

The exemplification shown and described is believed to be the best embodiment of my inven- 5 What I claim is: f 1. In a. bolster supporting spring roup and stabilizing means, top and bottom plates formed to receive load springs therebetween; the top plate, "at its transverse median line, being open and the two portions at opposite sides of the opening having downwardly extending parallelly spaced walls ofiset. inwardly at the bottom which terminateand unite in a spring receiving bracket member, with an opening through the bottom and a ledge about'the opening, thereby providing a skeletal compartment extending transversely'of the plate and open at the top, ends and bottom; a hollow wedge. member with a closed top and downwardly sloping diverging ends arranged across: the top of said bracket member; a pair of friction shoes arranged at opposite ends of the wedge member and provided with inner sloping ends: complemental to and contacting the ends of the wedge member, while the tops and outer ends of the shoes have plane surfaces, the top surfaces being arranged in pressurerelation with the bottom of-the truck bolster and the outer ends having frictional engagement with frictionplates secured to the bottom plate and walls; and vertically disposed concentric coil springs arranged in the wedge member with their upper ends bearing against said wedge member, one of said springs being adapted to provide a vari-' able pressure through the wedge member to the friction shoes and being seated on said bottom plate, while the other spring seats on said ledge in the bottom of said top plate bracket and provides constant wedge and shoe pressure.

2.- In a bolster supporting spring group and stabilizing means, top and bottom plates, each formed at its opposite sides to receive the load springs, the top plate at its transverse median line having an open top and open ended com partment below the'upper surface of said plate and formed to provide wedge and shoe holding portions at the bottom joined to provide a springholding socket member; a hollow closed top wedge member positioned above the socket member and having downwardly sloping diverging ends disposed toward opposite ends of the compartments having plane bolster bottom engaging tops and outer ends; the, bottom plate having upwardly disposed ends provided with wear plates fric-C tionally engagedby the outer ends of said shoes.

3. A bolster supporting spring group and sta bilizing unit comprising a top plate and a bottom plate, the latter at opposite ends having upstanding wear-plates, while the top plate intermediate its sides is provided with downwardly extending inwardly oiTset walls united at their bottoms by webs arranged to form an open top and bottom cup-like member; a hollow wedge member with downwardly diverging opposite end walls, with a top wall and open bottom and dis posed above said cup-like member; coiled springs arranged concentrically in said cup-like member and in upward pressure exerting relation with the top ofsaid wedge member, one of said springs being seated in said cup-like member adapted to exert constant upward pressure on the wedge member, while the other spring extends through the bottom opening of the cup like member and ward pressure; a triangular shaped friction shoe at each end of the wedge member having side 68! tensions that project over portions of the top Plate where they may be contacted by upward movementof the top plate, the downwardly and outwardlysloping ends or the shoes matching the sloping end 'wallsof the wedge member and in contact therewith while the outer plane ends of the: shoes are in frictional engagement with said wear-plates: and their tops extending in the plane of said top plate to have pressure con. tact with thebottom of a superposed bolster; and. tie. means between the shoes and said bottom plate whereby the shoes,-plates and contained parts may be held in a compressed assembly for ape plication of the unit in a truck side frame.

4.. A bolster supporting sprin roup nd sta bilizing unit comprising a spaced top plate and a-xbottom plate with bolster supporting coil sprin s between opposite sides of the plates; the top plate being formed to provide an open ended stabilizing means containing compartment, open at its top and having a centrally located spring holding container open attop and bottom; a

vertically disposed coil spring seated in said con.-

jecting into the upward path of the top plate and to move therewith, said shoes having sloping ends matching and in contact with the sloping ends of said wedge member while the outer ends of said shoes" are in frictional engagement with said wear-plates and the tops of the shoes are adapted to engage the bottom of a superposed bolster;

and connecting means between the shoes and the bottom plate constituting ties between the top plate and the bottom plate prior to installation orthe unit in a truck side frame.

5. A bolster supporting spring group and sta-i bilizing unit comprising a spaced top plate and a bottom plate with bolster supporting coil sprin s between opposite sides of the plates;

the bottom plate at opposite ends having up Standing, wear-plates. of predetermined height; the top plate intermediate its sides being provided' with a transversely extending compartment of prearranged dimensions with open top and ends to receive the stabilizing means, the compartment Walls intermediate the ends being formed to provide a coil spring receiving'cuplike portion with an opening in its bottom; a pair of concentric coil springs removablyers ranged in said cuplike portion, one of said prin s seating on the bottom of said cup=like portion about the bottom opening while the other spring extends through the bottom opening and seats on the bottomplatc; a hollow wedge memher with downwardly sloping and flaring ends, an open bottom and a closed top and seated on the upper ends of said concentric coil springs;

triangular shaped friction shoes at opposite ends of the wedge member with the sloping ends of the shoes in contact with and matching the slop 5 ends of the wedge member, while the plane tops of the shoes extend through the opentop f. said c mpartment into bearing relation with a bolster bottom and the plane outer ends of the shoes in frictional contac with said wear plates.

6.,,A bolster supporting spring roup a d eta-.-

'3 bilizing'unit comprising a top plate and a bottom plate, the latter having end walls with upstanding wear plates, while the top plate intermediate its sides is provided with downwardly and in- ,wardly ofis'et walls joined at their bottom by webs arranged to form an open top and bottom spring-receiving cup-like member; a hollow wedge member with downwardly diverging opposite end walls, with a top wall and with an open bottom and positioned above said cup-like member; a coil spring seated on the bottom plate and extending through the bottom opening of the cuplike member into upward pressure exerting relation with said wedge member, and another spring seated in the cup-like member in pressure relation with the top of said wedge member; a triangular shaped friction shoe at each end of the wedge member having extensions that project over portions of the top plate and into the upward path of said plate, said friction shoes having downwardly and outwardly sloping ends matching the sloping end walls of the wedge member and in pressure contact therewith; while the outer plane ends of the shoes are in frictional engagement with said wear plates and their tops in pressure engagement with the bolster bottom floor; said bottom plate having openings for positioning over side frames or spring planks having upper projecting portions.

'7. In a truck bolster load spring and stabilizing unit comprising a bottom plate having a pocket with upstanding end flanges, wear plates associated with the end flanges and with openings in the end flanges adjacent the bottom, said bottom plate having brackets with shoe tie-connecting means and side extensions for seating the load springs; a top plate spaced above the bottom plate and having side extensions for seating on the load springs and provided with a transverse compartment open at its top and ends and having downwardly extending side walls off-set inwardly and united at their bottoms by a cup-like bracket having an opening in the bottom; a coil spring seated on the bottom plate and extending upwardly through the opening in said bracket; a wedge member with outwardly and downwardly diverging ends and having an open bottom and a closed top and seated on top of said coil spring; triangular shaped friction shoes having tie-connecting means, with extensions at the top that project over and provide contacts with the top plate, and inwardly and upwardly sloping inner ends arranged at pposite ends of the wedge member in pressure contact therewith; said shoes having flat outer ends that frictionally engage the wear plates and flat tops for pressure-contacting the bottom of a truck bolster; yieldable tie means attached to the tie connecting means of the shoes and to the tie brackets of the bottom plate which in conjunction with the shoe extensions overlapping the top plate hold the elements of the unit in assembled condition, said tie means being controllable from the unit exterior through said openings in the bottom plate.

8. In a bolster supporting spring group and stabilizing unit, comprising a bottom plate provided with a pocket having upstanding end flanges and openings in the bottom of the pocket and the adjacent end flanges, wear plates secured to the end flanges, brackets formed on the bottom plate for attaching shoe ties, and side extensions for seating the load springs; a top plate, having side extensions for seating on the load springs, spaced above the bottom plate and provided with a compartment open at the top and at the ends with downwardly extending side walls united at their bottoms by a coil spring receiving cup-like member having a partial bottom with an opening and a ledge around said opening; concentric coil springs arranged in said cup-like member, with one of said springs seated on the ledge of said bracket 'while the other spring extends through the opening in the bottom of the cup-like member and seats on the bottom plate; a wedge member with downwardly and outwardly diverging ends, with an open bottom and a closed top and seated on the tops of said concentric springs; triangular shaped friction shoes having depending tie means adapted to cooperate with the bottom plate brackets, side extensions at the tops of the shoes that extend over the top plate and are adapted to move therewith, the shoes having inwardly and upwardly sloping inner ends arranged at opposite ends of the wedge member in pressure contact therewith, said shoes having fiat outer ends that frictionally engage the wear plates and fiat tops for pressure contacting the bottom of a truck bolster; said ties, securing the bottom plate to the shoes which overlap and are in pressure contact with the top plate and springsupported wedge member, provide means for securing the top and bottom plates with associated parts into an assembled compressed unit; said tie means being accessible through said openings in the bottom plate.

9. A bolster supporting spring group and stabilizing unit comprising a top plate and a bottom plate each formed at opposite sides with extensions arranged to receive the bolster supporting springs, the bottom plate intermediate its opposite sides having spaced side and end walls forming a transverse pocket with wear plates secured to the pocket end walls, the top plate having intermediate its opposite sides, joined thereto, downwardly extending spaced sides walls united adjacent their bottoms by an open top and bottom friction spring guide and seat, said spring seat being formed by a ledge encircling a bottom opening, said spaced walls and spring seat forming a pocket without top and end walls and arranged to receive stabilizing means consisting of a wedge member having an open bottom and a closed top and downwardly sloping diverging outer ends positioned above said spring seat; friction shoes positioned at opposite ends of said wedge member and having downwardly and inwardly sloping inner ends matching and in pressure contact with said wedge member sloping outer ends, said shoes having approximately fiat outer end and top faces with the outer end faces in sliding frictional engagement with said wear plates and the top faces in bearing contact with the bottom of a superposed bolster; coil springs in pressure contact with said wedge member, one of said coil springs being seated on. the bottom plate and disposed upwardly through the open ing in said spring seat into variable pressure relation with the wedge member, while the other coil spring encircles said first mentioned spring and is seated on the top plate supporting ledge and extends upwardly into constant pressure contact with the top wall of said wedge member, said variable and said constant wedge pressures providing variable and constant shoe pressures.

10. In a load spring group and stabilizer unit comprising a bottom plate with upstanding flanges provided with wear plates, and openings in said flanges adjacent the bottom of the plate; a top plate spaced above the bottom plate and walls united at their bottoms by a s rin reeeiving bracket having an enoi-reiiti'g wall, the spaeed walls at their tops having recesses; a vertically disposed removable coil spring seated in said bracket walls; a hollow open bottom wedge member seated on said spring and provided with downward; outwardly sloping end walls; a triangular shaped. friction shoe with a side extension extending into an adjacent one of said top wall recesses and arranged at each end or the wedge memberwitli a sloping end contacting and matchin th'e'slopi-ng end or the wedge meirib'er, while the upper side of the shoe extends in the plane or the top plate to ekert u ward pressure on the bottom of a; superposed bolster with the outer end: adapted to extend into frictional relation with' the adjacent wear plate; and yieldafhle tiemean-s for oennebtii-ig the shoes to the bottom pl ate'whereby, in oonjuiietion with said shoe eittension top and bottom plates with the intervenirrg elements before positioning the operative position, are maintained in assembled compressed relation;

1'1. A bolster load spring and stabilizer unit eomprising spaded apart top arid bottom plates, he latter having end" walls, load springs ar ran ed between side extensions of the top plate bottom plate, the top plate interme'di v eshaving spaced depending walls united below the tens-by rackets arranged to provide en op rr top and? openencl-edcomp r m n with a .eentral sprng 'reeeiving opening in" the bot h m ur ound d: by pring seating ledg r; a il pr ng m vably mopntedrvertioally in said com pertinent and Seated onsaid ledge, a oil spring seatedpn: the b ttom plate and extending u wardthreu h sai spr n receiving penine,- a hollow wedge membe with d wnwardly lopin and ou w rdly div r ng. end walls, seated on the, upper endear said coil srnfi e qi and triangu'= lar shapedfrietion shoes with their sloping inner ends arranged to mateh and contact-the sloping ends oi the wedge rnember,-- the bottom plate adiacent its end walls being provided with stan ng pl tes w h White he uter" ends cpflaaid; shoes efieotf rietienal engagement.

Ab lte load spring and; stabilizer unit compris ng spac d apart top; and bottompl tes; the bottom plate hating endwallse load Springs. arrang 'd'between the top. and bottonrplatesrthe tIdr' plat havii g downwardly extending spaeed v inwardly town-d eaeh-otherattheir' lower" ends and" joiri ec'lalt their bottoms by' a? t i formed-to provide,- a Spring a coil spring reiriovablast mountedver w s is m i i e i edl e-. p111 B 'hQ OW t Billy movable wedge'mems her with eowiiwaraiy and outwardly dialer-gingend, walls positioned between the downwardly W31 fide ited on saidt p ii lijct on shoes. with ifiner; slop and contacting the di H g V of the wedge m'ember im ed 1n th eropeli Dortioflbetvveen said downwerdiy extenuirr spacedwansgiwear plates; secured to the botto'inplate end wallsg, saidshoes Havilfigfoliter f orltabtingi said wean plates. andhflihgdepen, g. oonneeting rnea nsg; said bottom platehavi glbraoket'sarranged 'to receive the lower entis of thef dependingoonneeti-ng means of the shoes, for securing said-shoes and b'ottorn pi :e: with associated parts into an assembled' compressed unit;-

7 13: riiol'ster snrmo fife p ih group s e 75-: artengedto?heuse stebiiiting means, said exten .forin an open top and spring guiding botto'ni compartment; a hollow wedge member with downwardly diverging opposite tend walls, having top wall andopen' bottom and positionedabove said compartment, a: vertically disposed coil spring seated-on the bottom plate and extending through the bottom opening of said compartment into upward pressure exerting relation with the top of said wedge member, a triangular shaped frictionshoe at each end of the wedge member haying extensions that project into the.upward pfitthof the top plate; theinner ends of the shoes heing gdewnwardly'ancl outwardly sloping and matching the sloping end-walls of the wedge member andin contact therewith; while the outer ends of the shoes are plane and arranged injrio'tionalengagement with said wear plates, withthe tops ofthe shoes extending into the plane of said top plate to exert upward press iir on the bottom of a superposed bolster; and means for securing the shoes to said bottom plat whereby theshoes and elements; may be held inoonrpressed pqsition for assembly of the unit into a truek side frame. m p H H -iA-Xei PY PaI u b s r. supp rtin spring gronphaving a top Plate and a bottom plate adapted tobe seatdon a truck side frarrie spring? seat stabili zing means arranged between and opr'ti ting withsaid plates for eontrolling m" spring f ipi t b t om Plate h v nei up W Plates. and the p a vin 7 eeivin'g bracket with an opening in the m and a ledg'e'aronnd saidpopening, said ens" consisting o a oeritrally p051- steem wedge zfie'fnberhatingouter faces sloping downwardly and outwardly, frictioi'i shoes hatin Y ilfiir' faces complrnental to 1r load pring roup" having top and bo tom plates associated with stab'ili iigri'ieafis for position ng err trii'ekfls je frame and consisting inmate ,sp'fi'n'g' seating ex: k eewaus iero ir walled end' walls with attached wear were having inner edges V t i wa t i' i h zoritally'" eittendirig center portion thereby ro ding" in eaoh side wall approximately if1= A shaped center openi-ngsr,. said pocket'at ends-being provided mth fileafis i 1 sions and joining side walls being provided with top recesses arranged to receive friction shoe extensions, said side walls being offset inwardly adjacent their bottoms to provide portions arranged to operate vertically between the bottom plate pocket side walls, said side walls adjacent their bottoms being joined by a bracket which forms a ledge for seating a friction spring, with said ledge encircling an opening for passage of another friction spring; a wedge member positioned above the friction spring seating ledge and having an open bottom, a closed top and outer faces sloping downwardly outward; triangular shaped friction shoes positioned in the top plate compartment at each end of the wedge member and having inner sloping faces matchin and pressure contacting the outer sloping faces of said wedge member, said shoes having flat outer and top surfaces arranged for frictionally contacting said wear plates and the bottom of a superposed bolster, said shoes having side extensions extending over and into the top plate recesses and arranged to contact and be movable with said plate, the shoes having means for yieldably attaching assembly ties; friction springs concentrically positioned and arranged to simultaneously contact the wedge member, with one of said springs seated on the bottom plate and extending upwardly through said bottom passage of the top plate into variable pressure relation with said wedge member, while the other of said spring seats on said ledge and encircles the first mentioned spring and extends upwardly into constant pressure relation with the top of the wedge member; and tie means connected to the bottom plate and yieldably attached to the shoes and with the shoe side extensions projecting over and contacting the top plate to provide means for securing said shoes, bottom and top plates and the contained parts into a compressed assembled unit.

16. A railway car truck bolster supporting spring group, having a top plate and a bottom plate, each with side extensions for contacting the supporting springs and said group adapted to be seated on a truck side frame spring seat; stabilizing means arranged between and operating with said plates for controlling said supporting springs; the bottom plate having a laterally extending four walled pocket with wear plates associated with opposite end walls of said pocket; the top plate having a laterally extending pocket without top or end walls and having downwardly extending spaced side walls united adjacent their bottoms with a spring receiving bracket having an opening in the bottom and a ledge around said opening; stabilizing means housed in said pockets and consisting of, a wedge member positioned above said spring receiving bracket and having an open bottom, a closed top and outer faces sloping downwardly and outwardly; friction shoes at opposite ends of said wedge member and having inner sloping faces complemental to and contacting said wedge member outer sloping faces, said shoes having top surfaces that pressure contact the bolster bottom floor and outer substantially flat faces to frictionally contact said wear plates; coil springs extending upwardly into simultaneous pressure contacts with said wedge member, with one of said springs being seated on the ledge portion of the spring receiving bracket and having constant pressure contact with said wedge member thereby producing constant shoe pressure, the other of said springs being seated on the bottom plate and extending 12 upwardly through the opening in the spring receiving bracket into variable pressure relation with said wedge member, thereby producing variable shoe pressure.

17. A bolster supporting spring group and stabilizing unit comprising a top plate and a bottom plate each having side extensions arranged for contacting the load springs; the bottom plate having intermediate its side extensions a transverse four walled open top pocket, joined thereto, with wear plates secured to the pocket end walls and said pocket side walls provided with substantially V shaped vertically extending center openings arranged to receive portions of the top plate spaced walls and means adjacent each pocket end for attaching assembly ties; the top plate having intermediate its extensions and joining thereto, downwardly extending spaced side Walls of approximately V-shaped configuration arranged to position and operate vertically in said bottom plate V-shaped pocket side wall openings, said side walls and joined extensions having top recesses arranged to receive friction shoe side extensions and said side walls ofiset inwardly adjacent their bottoms to provide portions arranged to move vertically between said bottom plate pocket side walls, said oifset portions being joined by webs forming an open bottom cup-like spring guiding bracket, while said side walls provide a transverse compartment without top or end walls and arranged to house stabilizing means; a Wedge member with downwardly diverging sloping outer faces, an open bottom and a closed top, positioned above said cup-like bracket; a coil spring seated on the bottom plate and extending upwardly through the open bottom of the cup-like bracket into upward variable pressure with said wedge member; a triangular shaped friction shoe at each 3 end of the wedge member having side extensions that project over and into said top plate recesses and arranged to provide contacts with said plate and be movable therewith, said shoes having inner sloping faces matching and pressure contacting the sloping outer faces of said wedge member while the outer plane ends of said shoes are in frictional engagement with said wear plates, with the tops extending into the plane of said top plate to exert upper pressure on the bottom of a superposed bolster, said shoes being provided with means arranged for attaching assembly tie means; and tie means attachable to the bottom plate and yieldably attached to said shoes whereby said shoe overlapping extensions contacting the top plate provide means whereby the top and bottom plates, the shoes and contained parts, may be maintained in assembled compressed relation for positioning on a truck side frame.

18. A bolster load spring and stabilizer unit comprising spaced apart top and bottom plates having side extensions arranged to receive the load springs; the bottom plate having side and end walls forming a pocket having wear plates secured to said pocket end walls, and means adjacent each end of said pocket for attaching assembly ties; the top plate having downwardly extending spaced side walls joined adjacent their bottoms by a bracket forming a cup-like spring seating member, thereby providing a compartment without top or end walls; a coil spring mounted vertically in said spring seating memher; a hollow open bottom and closed top wedge member with downwardly and outwardly sloping diverging end walls positioned in the top plate compartment and seated on said coil spring; triangular shaped friction shoes with inner sloping ends matching and pressure contacting the sloping end walls of the wedge member and positioned in opposite ends of the top plate compartment, said shoes having outer faces pressure contacting said wear plates and their tops arranged to make pressure contacts with a superposed bolster bottom when the assembled unit is positioned in a truck side frame; said shoes having means for attaching assembly ties; and ties yieldably attachable to the shoes and secured to the bottom plate means for maintaining said shoes, bottom and top plates and associated parts in an assembled compressed unit.

19. A bolster supporting spring group and stabilizing unit, comprising a top plate and a bottom plate each formed at opposite sides with extensions arranged to receive the bolster supporting springs and each plate having vertically positioned walls joining the opposite sides of said plates, thereby forming transverse pockets arranged to house the stabilizing means; the bottom plate intermediate its opposite sides having spaced side and end walls forming a transverse pocket with wear plates secured to said ocket end walls; a top plate having intermediate its opposite sides and joined thereto, downwardly extending spaced side walls united adjacent their bottoms by an open top and bottom friction spring guide and spring seat, the spring seating portion being formed by a ledge encircling an opening arranged to permit passage of a second friction spring, said spaced walls and spring seat forming a pocket without top and end walls and arranged to receive the stabilizing means consisting of a wedge member having an open bottom and a closed top and downwardly sloping diverging outer ends and positioned above said spring seat; friction shoes positioned at opposite ends of said wedge member and having downwardly and inwardly sloping inner ends matching and in pressure contact with said wedge member sloping outer ends, said shoes having substantially flat outer end and top faces, with the outer faces in sliding frictional engagement with said wear plates and the top faces in bearing contact with the bottom of a superposed bolster; coil springs in pressure contact with said wedge member, one of said coil springs being seated on the bottom plate and disposed upwardly through the opening in said friction spring seat into variable pressure relation with the wedge member while another of said coil springs encircles said first mentioned coil spring and is seated on the top plate supporting ledge and extends upwardly into constant pressure contact with the top wall of said wedge member, said variable and said constant wedge pressure providing variable and constant shoe pressures.

KARL M. HAMILTON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,295,556 Flesch Sept. 15, 1942 2,356,742 Bachman Aug. 29, 1944 2,365,199 Light Dec. 19, 1944 2,390,110 Light Dec. 4, 1945 2,398,750 Light Apr. 16, 1946 2,483,171 Bachman Sept. 27, 1949 

